Preparing for Your Colonoscopy and/or Upper Endoscopy
Your doctor may order a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy for many different reasons – to screen for cancer; to identify the source and location of a gastrointestinal (GI) bleed; or to find out what may be causing other GI symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea or difficulty swallowing.
Sometimes, only one of these tests will be done but in some cases, both may be necessary. Colonoscopy looks for abnormal areas in the rectum and colon (large intestine) and upper endoscopy examines the esophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). Patients should carefully follow the preparation instructions for one or both tests, based on their doctor’s directions.
Instructions Specific to Your Exam
Detailed instructions about how to prepare for colonoscopy and/or upper endoscopy exams are provided in the following downloadable documents. Please be sure to review and carefully follow the instructions for the test(s) and the type of prep your doctor has ordered.
- Colonoscopy bowel prep instructions
- Colonoscopy 2 day extended bowel prep with Miralax instructions
- Colonoscopy 2 day extended bowel prep with PEG solution instructions
- Colonoscopy 7 day extended bowel prep with Miralax and PEG solution instructions
- Upper endoscopy instructions
- Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy bowel prep instructions
- Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy 2 day extended bowel prep with Miralax instructions
- Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy 2 day extended bowel prep with PEG solution instructions
- Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy 7 day extended bowel prep with Miralax and PEG solution instructions
*Colonoscopy extended bowel preps may be recommended for patients with difficulty achieving good or excellent preparation results with the usual process and are for special circumstances.
Call for More Information
If you have questions about your exam, please call the number listed below for the facility at which you are scheduled at to have the exam:
| Facility | Facility address | Facility phone number |
|---|---|---|
| UH Ahuja Medical Center | 3999 Richmond Rd., Beachwood, OH 44122 | 216-593-5425 |
| UH Bainbridge Health Center | 8185 East Washington St., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 | 440-708-0582 |
| UH Cleveland Medical Center | Mather Pavilion, Suite 1300, 11100 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44106 | 216-844-1596 |
| UH Conneaut Medical Center | 158 West Main Rd., Conneaut, OH 44030 | 440-593-0330 |
| UH Elyria Medical Center | 630 East River St., Elyria, OH 44035 | 440-329-7536 |
| UH Geauga Medical Center, a Campus of UH Regional Hospitals | 13207 Ravenna Rd., Chardon, OH 44024 | 440-285-6180 |
| UH Geneva Medical Center | 870 West Main St., Geneva, OH 44041 | 440-415-0184 |
| UH Mentor Surgery Center | Suite 220, 9000 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060 | 440-205-4505 |
| UH Minoff Health Center at Chagrin Highlands | Suite 2200, 3909 Orange Pl., Orange Village, OH 44122 | 216-896-1886 |
| UH North Ridgeville Health Center | Suite 2400, 32800 Lorain Rd., North Ridgeville, OH 44039 | 440-406-5560 |
| UH Parma Medical Center | Suite 102, 6707 Powers Blvd., Parma, OH 44129 | 440-743-4013 |
| UH Portage Medical Center | 6847 North Chestnut St., Ravenna, OH 44266 | 330-297-2766 |
| UH Samaritan Medical Center | 1025 Center St., Ashland, OH 44805 | 419-207-2558 |
| UH St. John Medical Center | 29000 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake, OH 44145 | 440-827-5190 |
| UH Suburban Health Center | 1611 South Green Rd., South Euclid, OH 44121 | 216-691-0100, option 0 |
| UH Westlake Surgery Center | Suite 2200, 960 Clague Rd., Westlake, OH 44145 | 440-250-2431 |